Optical cross-connect component

ABSTRACT

An optical cross-connect component mutually connecting an end of a first optical fiber group and an end of a second optical fiber group is disclosed. The optical cross-connect component includes a plurality of first connectors housing therein the end of the first optical fiber group, and a plurality of second connectors housing therein the end of the second optical fiber group. The m×n optical fibers in the first optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality of first connectors, and the m×n optical fibers in the second optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality of second connectors. The end of the first optical fiber group and the end of the second optical fiber group are connected so as to be butted to each other.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2016-076612, filed on Apr. 6, 2016; theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical cross-connect component.

BACKGROUND

An optical signal processing device such as a reconfigurable opticaladd/drop multiplexer (ROADM) has been known in a field of a wavelengthdivision multiplexing (WDM) optical communication. The processing devicerequires a wiring structure for dividing input WDM signals for eachwavelength and collecting respective divided signal components for eachwavelength.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,768,116 disclosed an optical cross-connect mechanismincluding a first connector stack stacked in one direction and a secondconnector stack stacked in another direction orthogonal to the relevantone direction, as the above wiring structure. This mechanism provides alens to a tip end of each of optical fibers held by the first connectorstack and the second connector stack.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an optical cross-connectcomponent mutually connects an end of a first optical fiber group and anend of a second optical fiber group, each of the first and secondoptical fiber groups having m×n optical fibers arranged in a matrix of mrows×n columns at the ends, wherein m and n each represents an integerequal to or more than two. The optical cross-connect component includesa plurality of first connectors housing therein the end of the firstoptical fiber group, and a plurality of second connectors housingtherein the end of the second optical fiber group. The m×n opticalfibers in the first optical fiber group are housed in any of theplurality of first connectors, and one first connector of the pluralityof first connectors collectively houses therein n optical fibersarranged in at least any one row of the m rows. The m×n optical fibersin the second optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality ofsecond connectors, and one second connector of the plurality of secondconnectors collectively houses therein m optical fibers arranged in atleast any one column of the n columns. The end of the first opticalfiber group and the end of the second optical fiber group are connectedso as to be butted to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other purposes, aspects and advantages will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of embodiments of theinvention with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for illustrating a wiring structure of anoptical cross-connect component according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical cross-connect componentaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing first connectors in the opticalcross-connect component of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing second connectors in the opticalcross-connect component of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an adapter.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing first connectors in an opticalcross-connect component according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing second connectors in the opticalcross-connect component according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing connectors in an opticalcross-connect component according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing connectors in an opticalcross-connect component according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where an end of afirst optical fiber group and an end of a second optical fiber group aredirectly butted to each other in an optical cross-connect component.

FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where an end of afirst optical fiber group and an end of a second optical fiber group arebutted to each other via a refractive index matching material in anoptical cross-connect component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Description of Embodiment of the PresentApplication Invention

Content of embodiments of the present invention is listed and described.An optical cross-connect component according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is an optical cross-connect component mutuallyconnecting an end of a first optical fiber group and an end of a secondoptical fiber group, each of the first and second optical fiber groupshaving m×n (m by n) optical fibers arranged in a matrix of m rows×ncolumns at the ends, wherein m and n each represents an integer equal toor more than two. The optical cross-connect component includes aplurality of first connectors housing therein the end of the firstoptical fiber group, and a plurality of second connectors housingtherein the end of the second optical fiber group. The m×n opticalfibers in the first optical fiber group are housed in any of theplurality of first connectors, and one first connector of the pluralityof first connectors collectively houses therein n optical fibersarranged in at least any one row of the m rows. The m×n optical fibersin the second optical fiber group are housed in any of the plurality ofsecond connectors, and one second connector of the plurality of secondconnectors collectively houses therein m optical fibers arranged in atleast any one column of the n columns. The end of the first opticalfiber group and the end of the second optical fiber group are connectedso as to be butted to each other.

The optical cross-connect component connects one first connector withall the second connectors each other by connecting each of the n opticalfibers housed in the one first connector to any of a plurality of secondconnectors. Each of the second connectors is connected with the opticalfibers from each of a plurality of first connectors, and therebyspecified signals can be collected from the respective first connectorsto one second connector. In addition, the optical cross-connectcomponent mutually connects the end of the first optical fiber group andthe end of the second optical fiber group so as to be butted to eachother without via a lens. Therefore, there is no restriction by anoutside diameter of the lens, and thus, it is possible to easilyincrease a density of the optical fiber and further reduce a couplingloss.

In the optical cross-connect component according to one aspect, theplurality of first connectors may be m first connectors, each firstconnector collectively housing therein the n optical fibers arranged ineach row at the end of the first optical fiber group, and the pluralityof second connector may be n second connectors, each second connectorcollectively housing therein the m optical fibers arranged in eachcolumn at the end of the second optical fiber group.

In such an optical cross-connect component, the ends of the n opticalfibers housed in the first connector are respectively connected with theends of the optical fibers of the n second connectors different fromeach other. In other words, the ends of the m optical fibers housed inthe second connector are respectively connected with the ends of theoptical fibers housed in the m first connectors different from eachother. Each of the second connectors is connected with the opticalfibers from each of the m first connectors, and thereby specifiedsignals can be collected from the respective first connectors to onesecond connector. In addition, in this optical cross-connect component,the end of the first optical fiber group and the end of the secondoptical fiber group are connected so as to be butted to each otherwithout via a lens. Therefore, there is no restriction by an outsidediameter of the lens, and thus, it is possible to easily increase adensity of the optical fiber and further reduce a coupling loss.

The optical cross-connect component according to one aspect may furtherinclude an adapter fixing at least one first connector of the pluralityof first connectors and fixing at least one second connector of theplurality of second connectors. The adapter is configured to be fixedwith both the first and the second connectors, thereby positioning ofthe first connector and the second connector can be easily carried out.

In the optical cross-connect component according to one aspect, theadapter may have a frame including one end face and other end faceopposite to the one end face. The frame may have one or more guide holeson the one end face for being connected to the first connectors viaguide pins and one or more guide holes on the other end face for beingconnecting to the second connectors via a guide pins. Since the firstconnectors and the second connectors are connected to the adapter by theguide pins, positioning of the first connectors and the secondconnectors can be easily and accurately carried out.

In the optical cross-connect component according to one aspect, the endof the first optical fiber group and the end of the second optical fibergroup may be butted to each other via a refractive index matchingmaterial. It is possible to hold stably an optical connection betweenthe end of the optical fiber on one side and the end of the opticalfiber on the other side.

In the optical cross-connect component according to one aspect, twofirst connectors positioned on both ends in a column direction may haven guide holes for being connected with the n second connectors via guidepins, and the two second connectors positioned on both ends in a rowdirection may respectively have m guide holes for being connected withthe m first connectors via guide pins. Since the first connectors andthe second connectors are directly connected via the guide pins,positioning of the first connectors and the second connectors can beeasily and accurately carried out.

Detail of Embodiments of the Present Application Invention

Specific examples of an optical cross-connect component according toembodiments of the invention are described below with reference to thedrawings. The invention is not limited to the examples, and is intendedto include the meanings shown in the Claims and equivalent to theClaims, and all changes in a scope thereof. In the followingdescription, the same components in description of the drawings aredesignated by the same reference signs, and the duplicated descriptionis omitted.

First Embodiment

First, a description is given of a basic concept of a wiring structureof the optical cross-connect component according to an aspect. FIG. 1 isa conceptual diagram for illustrating a wiring structure of an opticalcross-connect component. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical cross-connectcomponent has m first connectors A1 to Am (m represents an integer equalto or more than two) and n second connectors B1 to Bn (n represents aninteger equal to or more than two). Here, for example, n signalcomponents λ1 to λn obtained by dividing, for each wavelength, WDMsignals S1 to Sm different from each other are input to the firstconnectors A1 to Am. In this case, the first connectors A1 to Am and thesecond connectors B1 to Bn are connected with each other such that thesignal components λ1 to λn output from the first connectors A1 to Am arecollected into the second connectors B1 to Bn for each wavelength. Forexample, the signal components λ1 output from the first connectors A1 toAm are all input to the second connector B1. In the embodiment, ends ofthe optical fibers housed in the first connectors A1 to Am are connectedso as to be butted to ends of the optical fibers housed in the secondconnectors B1 to Bn, which achieves the above wiring structure.

Next, a description is given of an example of specific configurations ofthe optical cross-connect component. The optical cross-connect componentin the embodiment mutually connects ends for a pair of optical fibergroups, the ends being of m×n optical fibers arranged in each opticalfiber group in a matrix of m rows×n columns. The optical cross-connectcomponent includes the first connectors in number of m each collectivelyhousing therein the n optical fibers arranged in each row at the endsfor first optical fiber group, and the second connectors in number of neach collectively housing therein the m optical fibers arranged in eachcolumn at the ends for the second optical fiber group. In the opticalcross-connect component, the end of the first optical fiber group andthe end of the second optical fiber group are connected so as to bebutted to each other. Hereinafter, a description is given of an examplewhere both m and n are “eight”. That is, a description is given of anexample where ends 5 a for an optical fiber group 5 consisting ofoptical fibers arranged in a matrix of eight rows×eight columns areconnected with ends 25 a for an optical fiber group 25 also consistingof optical fibers arranged in a matrix of eight rows×eight columns.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an opticalcross-connect component according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2,an optical cross-connect component 1 includes eight first connectors 10,eight second connectors 20, and an adapter 30. The first connectors 10correspond to the first connectors A1 to A8, and the second connectors20 correspond to the second connectors B1 to B8. Both the firstconnector 10 and the second connector 20 are plate-shaped. In theoptical cross-connect component 1, eight first connectors 10 are stackedin the column direction and eight second connectors 20 are stacked inthe row direction. Then, the first connectors 10 and the secondconnectors 20 are connected with each other by the adapter 30. In FIG.2, 64 (m×n) optical fibers housed in the first connectors 10 and secondconnectors 20 are omitted, but the ends of these 64 optical fibers arearranged in a matrix of eight rows×eight columns. Hereinafter, adescription is given in detail of the first connector 10, the secondconnector 20, and the adapter 30.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the first connectors. In FIG. 3A,optical fibers 6 are depicted only for one first connector 10, and theoptical fibers 6 are omitted for other seven first connectors 10. Theoptical fiber group 5 is constituted by 64 optical fibers 6 housed ineight first connectors 10. The first connector 10, which is, forexample, a ferrule having inside thereof a plurality of parallel opticalfiber holding holes, collectively houses ends of eight optical fibers 6arranged in the row direction. A contour of the first connector 10 isplate-shaped extending in the row direction. The first connector 10 hasan end face 10 a where the optical fibers 6 are inserted and an end face10 b in an opposite side of the end face 10 a. At an end 6 a of theoptical fiber 6, a bare optical fiber is exposed by eliminating a resincoating, and this exposed bare optical fiber is housed in the firstconnector 10. At the end face 10 b, the end 6 a of the optical fiber 6housed in the first connector 10 is exposed. For example, the end 6 acan protrude from the end face 10 b.

At both end sides in the row direction of the first connector 10, steps11 and 12 are formed each at which a side of the end face 10 b isrecessed toward the end face 10 a side. A guide hole 13 is formed oneach of the steps 11 and 12. The guide hole 13 may be mated with a guidepin (see FIG. 4) for connecting with the adapter 30. In the embodiment,a pair of guide holes 13 is formed at the steps 11 and 12 of the firstconnector 10 along an optical axis direction.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the second connector in theoptical cross-connect component. In FIG. 3B, optical fibers 26 aredepicted only for one second connector 20, and the optical fibers 26 areomitted for other seven second connectors 20. The optical fiber group 25is constituted by 64 optical fibers 26 housed in eight second connectors20. The second connector 20, which is, for example, a ferrule,collectively houses ends of eight optical fibers 26 arranged in thecolumn direction. A contour of the second connector 20 is plate-shapedextending in the column direction. The second connector 20 has an endface 20 a where the optical fibers 26 are inserted and an end face 20 bon an opposite side of the end face 20 a. At an end 26 a of the opticalfiber 26, a bare optical fiber is exposed by eliminating a resincoating, and this exposed bare optical fiber is housed in the secondconnector 20. At the end face 20 b, the end 26 a of the optical fiberhoused in the second connector 20 is exposed. For example, the end 26 acan protrude from the end face 20 b.

At both end sides of the second connector 20 in the column direction,steps 21 and 22 are formed each at which a side of the end face 20 b isrecessed toward the end face 20 a side. A guide hole 23 is formed oneach of the steps 21 and 22. The guide hole 23 may be mated with a guidepin (see FIG. 4) for connecting with the adapter 30. In the embodiment,a pair of guide holes 23 is formed at the steps 21 and 22 of the secondconnector 20 along an optical axis direction.

In the embodiment, lengths in the row direction and column direction arethe same of a face defined by eight end faces 10 b in a state where thefirst connectors 10 are stacked and a face defined by eight end faces 20b in a state where the second connectors 20 are stacked. In the statewhere the first connectors 10 are stacked, a pitch of the ends 6 a of 64optical fibers 6 is the same length in the row direction and columndirection. Similarly, in the state where the second connectors 20 arestacked, a pitch of the ends 26 a of 64 optical fibers 26 is the samelength in the row direction and column direction. Then, a pitch of theoptical fibers 6 on the first connector 10 is the same as a pitch of theoptical fibers 26 on the second connector 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an adapter. The adapter 30 includesa frame 31 to which eight first connectors 10 and eight secondconnectors 20 are fixed. The frame 31 is rectangular-shaped having aspace SP in a center thereof. The frame 31 includes an end face (one endface) 31 a surrounding the space SP and an end face (the other end face)31 b in an opposite side of the end face 31 a. A plurality of guideholes 33 are formed on the end face 31 a. In the embodiment, the guidehole 33 of the frame 31 is connected with the guide hole 13 of the firstconnector 10 by way of a guide pin 39. Therefore, the guide holes 33 areformed in number of eight corresponding to eight first connectors 10respectively on both end sides in the row direction (in a horizontaldirection) on the end face 31 a. The guide holes 33 are aligned in thecolumn direction (in a vertical direction).

A plurality of guide holes 35 are formed on the end face 31 b. In theembodiment, the guide hole 35 of the frame 31 is connected with theguide hole 23 of the second connector 20 by way of the guide pin 39.Therefore, the guide holes 35 are formed in number of eightcorresponding to eight second connectors 20 respectively on both endsides in the column direction on the end face 31 b. The guide holes 35are aligned in the row direction.

In the state where eight first connectors 10 are stacked, the end faces10 b of the first connectors 10 can be arranged in the space SP. At thistime, the guide hole 13 of the first connector 10 may be connected withthe guide hole 33 of the frame 31 by way of the guide pin 39. Thisallows a position of the first connector 10 in the space SP to bedetermined. Similarly, in the state where eight second connectors 20 arestacked, the end faces 20 b of the second connectors 20 can be arrangedin the space SP. At this time, the guide hole 23 of the second connector20 may be connected with the guide hole 35 of the frame 31 by way of theguide pin 39. This allows a position of the second connector 20 in thespace SP to be determined. In this state, the ends 6 a of 64 opticalfibers 6 protruding from the end faces 10 b of eight first connectors 10and the ends 26 a of 64 optical fibers 26 protruding from the end faces20 b of eight second connectors 20 may be connected so as to be buttedto each other (see FIG. 8A). In this case, the ends 6 a of the opticalfibers 6 on the first connector 10 side and the ends 26 a of the opticalfibers 26 on the second connector 20 side may be butted to each othervia a refractive index matching material S (see FIG. 8B).

In the optical cross-connect component 1 described above, the ends 6 aof eight optical fibers 6 housed in the first connector 10 arerespectively connected with the ends 26 a of the optical fibers 26housed in eight second connectors 20 different from each other. In otherwords, the ends 26 a of eight optical fibers 26 housed in the secondconnector 20 are respectively connected with the ends 6 a of the opticalfibers 6 housed in eight first connectors 10 different from each other.Each of eight second connectors 20 is connected with the end 6 a of theoptical fiber 6 from each of eight first connectors 10, and therebyspecified signals can be collected from the respective first connectors10 to one second connector 20. In this optical cross-connect component1, the ends 5 a for one optical fiber group 5 and the ends 25 a for theother optical fiber group 25 are connected so as to be butted to eachother without via a lens. Therefore, there is no restriction by anoutside diameter of the lens, and thus, it is possible to easilyincrease a density of the optical fibers 6 and 26 and further reduce acoupling loss.

The optical cross-connect component 1 includes, as one aspect, theadapter 30 fixing eight first connectors 10 and fixing eight secondconnectors 20. The adapter 30 is configured to be fixed with both thefirst connectors 10 and the second connectors 20, thereby positioning ofthe first connectors 10 and the second connectors 20 can be easilycarried out.

In one aspect, the frame 31 of the adapter 30 has the guide holes 33 onthe end face 31 a for being connected to eight first connectors 10 viathe guide pins 39 and the guide holes 35 on the end face 31 b for beingconnected to eight second connectors 20 via the guide pins 39. Since thefirst connectors 10 and the second connectors 20 are connected to theadapter member 30 by the guide pins 39, positioning of the firstconnectors 10 and the second connectors 20 can be easily and accuratelycarried out. The guide hole 33 may not necessarily exist only on the endface 31 a, but may penetrate to the end face 31 b. Similarly, the guidehole 35 may not necessarily exist only on the end face 31 b, but maypenetrate to the end face 31 a.

In one aspect, the ends 5 a for one optical fiber group 5 and the ends25 a for the other optical fiber group 25 may be butted to each othervia a refractive index matching material. It is possible to hold stablyan optical connection between the end 6 a of the optical fiber 6 on oneside and the end 26 a of the optical fiber 26 on the other side.

Second Embodiment

An optical cross-connect component 101 according to the embodiment isdifferent from the optical cross-connect component 1 of the firstembodiment in that the first connectors are directly connected with thesecond connectors without via the adapter. Hereinafter, a description ismainly given of the difference from the first embodiment, and the samecomponent or member is designated by the same reference sign and thedetailed description thereof is omitted. In the embodiment, adescription is given of an example where both m and n are “eight”similarly to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a first connector 110 in theoptical cross-connect component 101. FIG. 5B is a perspective viewshowing a second connector 130 in the optical cross-connect component101. In FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, a depiction of an entire of the opticalfiber groups 5 and 25 is omitted, and depicted are only the ends 6 a ofthe optical fibers protruding from the first connectors 110 and the ends26 a of the optical fibers protruding from the second connectors 130.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the first connector 110 has six first innerconnectors 111 arranged in the column direction and a pair of firstouter connectors 121 arranged on both end sides in the column directionof six first inner connectors 111. The first inner connector 111, whichis, for example, a ferrule, collectively houses ends 6 a of eightoptical fibers 6 arranged in the row direction. A contour of the firstinner connector 111 is plate-shaped extending in the row direction. Thefirst inner connector 111 has an end face 111 a where the optical fibers6 are inserted and an end face 111 b on an opposite side of the end face111 a. The optical fiber 6 is housed in the first inner connector 111,and the end 6 a protrudes on the end face 111 b. Guide holes 113 areformed respectively on both end sides in row direction on the end face111 b of the first inner connector 111. The ends 6 a of eight opticalfibers 6 are arrayed on the end face 111 b of the first inner connector111 in the row direction.

The first outer connector 121, which is, for example, a ferrule,collectively houses ends 6 a of eight optical fibers 6 arranged in therow direction. A contour of the first outer connector 121 isplate-shaped extending in the row direction. The first outer connector121 has an end face 121 a where the optical fibers 6 are inserted and anend face 121 b on an opposite side of the end face 121 a. The opticalfiber 6 is housed in the first outer connector 121, and the end 6 aprotrudes on the end face 121 b. Guide holes 123 are formed respectivelyon both end sides in row direction on the end face 121 b of the firstouter connector 121. The ends 6 a of eight optical fibers 6 are arrayedon the end face 121 b of the first outer connector 121 in the rowdirection. On the end face 121 b, eight guide holes 125 are arrayed inthe row direction. In a state where the first outer connectors 121 andthe first inner connectors 111 are stacked, a pair of first outerconnectors 121 are arranged in such a manner that the guide holes 125are positioned on both end sides of the first connectors 110 in thecolumn direction.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the second connector 130 has six second innerconnectors 131 arranged in the row direction and a pair of second outerconnectors 141 arranged on both end sides in the row direction of sixsecond inner connectors 131. The second inner connector 131, which is,for example, a ferrule, collectively houses ends 26 a of eight opticalfibers 26 arranged in the column direction. A contour of the secondinner connector 131 is plate-shaped extending in the column direction.The second inner connector 131 has an end face 131 a where the opticalfibers 26 are inserted and an end face 131 b on an opposite side of theend face 131 a. The optical fiber 26 is housed in the second innerconnector 131, and the end 26 a protrudes on the end face 131 b. Guideholes 133 are formed respectively on both end sides in column directionon the end face 131 b of the second inner connector 131. The ends 26 aof eight optical fibers 26 are arrayed on the end face 131 b of thesecond inner connector 131 in the column direction.

The second outer connector 141, which is, for example, a ferrule,collectively houses ends 26 a of eight optical fibers 26 arranged in thecolumn direction. A contour of the second outer connector 141 isplate-shaped extending in the column direction. The second outerconnector 141 has an end face 141 a where the optical fibers 26 areinserted and an end face 141 b on an opposite side of the end face 141a. The optical fiber 26 is housed in the second outer connector 141, andthe end 26 a protrudes on the end face 141 b. Guide holes 143 are formedrespectively on both end sides in column direction on the end face 141 bof the second outer connector 141. The ends 26 a of eight optical fibers26 are arrayed on the end face 141 b of the second outer connector 141in the column direction. On the end face 141 b, eight guide holes 145are arrayed in the column direction. In a state where the second outerconnectors 141 and the second inner connectors 131 are stacked, a pairof second outer connectors 141 are arranged in such a manner that theguide holes 145 are positioned on both end sides of the secondconnectors 130 in the row direction.

In this embodiment, in the state where the first connectors 110 arestacked, a pitch of the ends 6 a of 64 optical fibers 6 is the samelength in the row direction and column direction. Similarly, in thestate where the second connectors 130 are stacked, a pitch of the ends26 a of 64 optical fibers 26 is also the same length in the rowdirection and column direction. Then, a pitch on the first connector 110is the same as a pitch on the second connector 130.

The guide holes 113 and guide holes 123 of the first connectors 110 maybe connected with the guide holes 145 of the second connectors 130 byway of the guide pin, and the guide holes 125 of the first connectors110 may be connected with the guide holes 133 and guide holes 143 of thesecond connectors 130 by way of guide pins. In this state, the ends 6 aof 64 optical fibers 6 protruding from the end faces 111 b and 121 b ofthe first connectors 110 and the ends 26 a of 64 optical fibers 26protruding from the end faces 131 b and 141 b of the second connectors130 may be connected so as to be butted to each other. In this case, theends 6 a of the optical fibers 6 on the first connector 110 side and theends 26 a of the optical fibers 26 on the second connector 130 side maybe butted to each other via a refractive index matching material.

In this embodiment, the first connectors 110 and the second connectors130 are directly connected via the guide pins, thereby, positioning ofthe first connectors 110 and the second connectors 130 can be easily andaccurately carried out.

Third Embodiment

An optical cross-connect component 201 according to the embodiment isdifferent from the optical cross-connect component 1 of the firstembodiment in that the first connectors and the second connectorscollectively house the optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows ora plurality of columns. Hereinafter, a description is mainly given ofthe difference from the first embodiment, and the same component ormember is designated by the same reference sign and the detaileddescription thereof is omitted. In the embodiment, a description isgiven of an example where both m and n are “eight” similarly to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first connector 210 in theoptical cross-connect component 201. The first connector 210collectively houses ends of eight optical fibers 6 arranged in the rowdirection. In the embodiment, four first connectors 210 eachcollectively house the optical fibers 6, the number of which is 16 intotal, arranged in two rows. By doing so, at an end face 210 b, ends 6 aof the optical fibers 6 housed in the first connector 210 are exposed.In the example shown in FIG. 6, one guide hole 13 is formed for each ofboth sides in the row direction, but two guide holes 13 may be formedfor each, for example. FIG. 6 shows the example of collectively housingoptical fibers arranged in two rows, but there is no limitation theretoand the optical fibers arranged in two or more rows may be collectivelyhoused in one first connector. In a second connector, the optical fibersarranged in two or more columns may be collectively housed in one secondconnector, similarly. The second connector 20 in the first embodimentmay be used as the second connector.

Fourth Embodiment

An optical cross-connect component 301 according to the embodiment isdifferent from the optical cross-connect component 101 of the secondembodiment in that the first connectors and the second connectorscollectively house the optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows ora plurality of columns. Hereinafter, a description is mainly given ofthe difference from the first and second embodiments, and the samecomponent or member is designated by the same reference sign and thedetailed description thereof is omitted. In the embodiment, adescription is given of an example where both m and n are “eight”similarly to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a first connector 310 in theoptical cross-connect component 301. The first connector 310 has threefirst inner connectors 311 arranged in the column direction and a pairof first outer connectors 121 arranged on both end sides in the columndirection of three first inner connectors 311. The first inner connector311 collectively houses ends of eight optical fibers 6 arranged in therow direction. Three first connectors 311 each collectively house theoptical fibers 6, the number of which is 16 in total, arranged in tworows. At an end face 311 b, ends 6 a of the optical fibers 6 housed inthe first inner connector 311 are exposed. FIG. 7 shows the example ofcollectively housing optical fibers arranged in two rows, but there isno limitation thereto and the optical fibers arranged in two or morerows may be collectively housed in one first inner connector 311.Additionally, in a second connector, the optical fibers arranged in twoor more columns may be collectively housed in one second connector,similarly to the first connector 310. In addition, the second connector130 in the second embodiment may be used as the second connector of thisembodiment.

Hereinbefore, the embodiments of the present invention are described indetail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration isnot limited to these embodiments.

For example, the example is shown where the value of m and the value ofn are the same value “8”, but there is no limitation thereto. The valueof m and the value of n may be different from each other, and may be adesired value such as “16” or “32”, so long as it is an integer equal toor more than two. For example, in a case where the value of m is “16”and the value of n is “32”, each of a pair of optical fiber groups to beconnected has 512 optical fibers arranged in a matrix of 16 rows×32columns. Each of 16 first connectors houses 32 optical fibers arrangedin each row. Each of 32 second connectors houses 16 optical fibersarranged in each column.

1-7. (canceled) 8: An optical cross-connect component comprising: firstconnectors each having at least n first fiber-holes therein, each of thefirst fiber-holes configured to respectively hold one of n opticalfibers of a first optical fiber group, the first connectors beingstacked along a first direction, wherein n represents an integer greaterthan one; second connectors each having at least m second fiber-holestherein, each of the second fiber-holes configured to respectively holdone of m optical fibers of a second optical fiber group, the secondconnectors being stacked along a second direction that intersects withthe first direction, wherein m represents an integer greater than one;and a connecting structure configured to cross-connect the firstconnectors and the second connectors. 9: The optical cross-connectcomponent according to claim 8, wherein the first fiber-holes areprovided along the second direction and the second fiber-holes areprovided along the first direction. 10: The optical cross-connectcomponent according to claim 8, wherein the connecting structurecomprises first guide holes provided with the first connectors andsecond guide holes provided with the second connectors. 11: The opticalcross-connect component according to claim 10, wherein the first guideholes are arranged along the first direction and the second guide holesare arranged along, the second direction, when the first connectorscross-connects with the second connectors. 12: The optical cross-connectcomponent according to claim 10, wherein the connecting structurefurther comprises guide pins that mate with at least ones of the firstguide holes or the second guide holes. 13: The optical cross-connectcomponent according to claim 10, wherein the connecting structurefurther comprises, an adapter provided with third guide holes in oneface and fourth guide holes in other face opposite to the one face,wherein the third guide holes are arranged along the first direction andthe fourth guide holes are arranged along the second direction; firstguide pins that mate with the first guide holes of the first connectorsand the third guide holes of the adapter; second guide pins that matewith the second guide holes of the second connectors and the fourthguide holes of the adapter. 14: The optical cross-connect componentaccording to claim 13, wherein the adapter comprises a frame having aspace therein, and, wherein one ends of the first connectors and oneends of the second connectors are arranged in the inner space of theadapter so that the one ends of the first connectors thee the one endsof the second connectors. 15: The optical cross-connect componentaccording to claim 13, wherein each of the first connectors has firststops at both ends thereof in the second direction, and each of thesecond connectors has second steps at both ends thereof in the firstdirection, wherein the first guide holes are provided with the firststeps and the second guide holes are provided with the second steps. 16:The optical cross-connect component according to claim 8, wherein avalue of m is identical with a value of n, and wherein the firstconnectors are m connectors and the second connectors are n connectors.17: The optical cross-connect component according to claim 8, furthercomprising: the first optical fiber group having the m×n optical fibers;and the second optical fiber group having the m×n optical fibers. 18:The optical cross-connect component according to claim 8, wherein eachof the first connectors has a flat surface facing a surface of theadjacent first connector and the flat surface has no protrusion. 19: Theoptical cross-connect component according to claim 8, wherein an outersurface of an outermost connector of the first connectors is one ofoutermost surfaces of the optical cross-connect component. 20: Theoptical cross-connect component according to claim 8, wherein the firstfiber-holes are parallel to each other from one end to an other end.